Prince Chauke

Prince Chauke

The Limpopo Department of Health and Social Development is helping destitute families who have been receiving food parcels by offering some of their members training for full-time employment.

The department launched a programme in 2003 that identifies individuals within needy families and then trains them as auxiliary nurses.

Media reports that the department was due to completely phase out food parcels have been refuted by the department.

Sophie Sekole, spokesman for the department, told Sowetan yesterday: "We are not terminating the food parcels programme, but once people are trained and are able to fend for themselves and their families there will no longer be a need for such assistance for them.

"After they have received this training we put them on our system as we all know that we have a shortage of nurses in this province.

"The criteria that we use is that we firstly identify needy families and orphaned and child-headed households.

"The individuals identified must have passed matric," Sekole said.

Since the programme began 242 people have been trained and currently 441 people are undergoing training.